1920s We started selling clothing in the 1920s, providing well made clothes at an affordable price for our male customers. At the time we also sold pyjamas, dressing gowns and knitted swimsuits. Pyjama window display 1930s M&S MENSWEAR TIMELINE

1930s In the 1930s we continued to sell high quality clothing for men. We branched out into shirt and tie sets, that were very useful Christmas gifts! Christmas window display 1930s Christmas window display, 1930s M&S MENSWEAR TIMELINE

1940s During the Second World War food and clothing were rationed. To make sure that fabric wasn’t wasted, our technologists helped the government to develop Utility Clothing standards. This was a set of rules that limited how much fabric, thread and how many buttons could be used to make garments. Even though we had to work to these rules, M&S Utility Clothing was comfortable and stylish too. CC41 St Michael shirt and pyjamas 1941 M&S MENSWEAR TIMELINE

1950s After the war we put a lot of effort into inventing new fabrics that made clothes less expensive to make. This meant that M&S could sell high quality fashion at a price most people could afford. A new textile laboratory opened to experiment with nylons, plastics and other synthetic materials, resulting in man-made fabrics that were easy-wash, no-iron and fade-resistant. Menswear window display 1950s Shirt and knitted tie 1950s M&S MENSWEAR TIMELINE

1970s Following the 70s trends for bright colours and vivid pattern, we used newly developed fabrics to create eye-catching shirts. Crimplene, nylon, Dacron and Cotton blend were all popular new fabrics. Menswear advertisement 1971 M&S MENSWEAR TIMELINE

1972 In 1972 our suit department was established. By 1974 trousers, jackets and blazers were available to buy in over 100 stores. Our first in-store display theme aimed at men was launched - it was called the 'Marksman’. Marksman in-store display and brown suit 1972 M&S MENSWEAR TIMELINE

1980s Until the 1980s, suit trousers and jackets had to be cut from the same piece of cloth to make sure they were the same colour. This meant that it could be difficult for some men to find a suit with both trousers and jacket that fitted them perfectly. In the 1980s we developed a way of matching colour so that large amounts of fabric could be dyed exactly the same colour. Now we could make jackets and trousers that all matched perfectly, but were in a range of sizes. So a customer could pick a medium jacket and small trousers in the same colour. M&S suits were very popular, in 1983 we started selling a bigger selection of designs and sales went up by 40%. Double breasted suit 1988 Menswear 1985 M&S MENSWEAR TIMELINE

1996 To make our outdoor clothing water and stain resistant, we began to use a Teflon coating on the fabric. This was later called Stormwear TM. Teflon is a chemical substance that is used to make the non-stick coating on cooking pans, it is also used in other ways in fashion and for medical equipment. Menswear 1997 M&S MENSWEAR TIMELINE

2001 Innovation is very important at M&S. We’re always working on ideas for new inventions and new ways of doing things. In 2001 a suit was invented that could be washed in the washing machine at home, instead of having to be taken to the dry-cleaners. Two years later we won the Queen’s Award for Innovation for this invention. Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation certificate 2003 M&S MENSWEAR TIMELINE

2007 We became the official suit supplier for the English national football team and under 21s team. The suits were designed by Timothy Everest. England football suit, Your M&S Magazine June/July 2007 M&S MENSWEAR TIMELINE

2011 More innovation! We launched a range of ‘sweat-free’ shirts called ‘The Dry Extreme Shirt’. The range was the first of its kind on the high street. Press release, M&S Launches the Sweat-Free Shirt for Men 27 March 2011 M&S MENSWEAR TIMELINE

2012 To keep clothes looking their best we started to use StayNEW TM technology in men’s t-shirts. This way of treating clothing means that the fabric keeps its original texture and colour for longer. In 2012 we provided the official suit for the England team during the UEFA European Championship. England Euro 2012 suit M&S MENSWEAR TIMELINE

2013 We launched the Best of British range - a new collection of clothing that uses our history to inspire the present. All the clothes in the range are made in the UK using the best quality fabrics, like Scottish cashmere and Yorkshire woollen cloths. Best of British Collection and logo 2013 M&S MENSWEAR TIMELINE

2014 We provided the Official Suit to the England Football Team for the 2014 World Cup. The suit was made using mid grey wool-and-mohair fabric made by Alfred Brown, a company in Yorkshire who have made cloth for us for many years. England World Cup suit 2014 M&S MENSWEAR TIMELINE